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Volunteerism

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Stellenbosch residents, businesses, and university students and lecturers are particularly community-minded and aware of their social obligations. Volunteer programmes range from the Environment, Wildlife, Child Welfare, the Aged and Medical, to Community volunteering.

Stellenbosch University’s HOPE Project creates sustainable solutions to some of South Africa and Africa’s most pressing challenges. The Project is rooted in its three core functions – teaching and learning, research and community interaction – and showcases academic initiatives that serve human need.

With its multidisciplinary approach rooted in science, the HOPE Project enables excellent research on local, regional and African challenges and provides the best opportunities for learning and growing new generations of thought leaders. The academic initiatives are grouped into five focus areas that are aligned with the international development agenda.

The project's objective is to create self-sufficiency and competency for children and families living with HIV/AIDS, in order to reduce the incidence of AIDS-related child abandonment.

The Stellenbosch Community Projects provides volunteer help for the development of local communities, to meet the needs of the community through a holistic approach, rather than merely meeting financial needs. The goal is to uplift and empower the Township areas in and around Stellenbosch. This is done by providing Learning Centres, Feeding Schemes, Life Skills Training, Job Skills Development and Christian Spiritual Development for children, youth and adults.

Volunteering at the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust is a wonderful opportunity, particularly for those who want to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in a new culture. This is both an amazing way to help out a unique community and get into close contact with the South African people and their culture. Every year volunteers from around the world live and work together in Khayamandi (Stellenbosch).

There are several medical volunteer schemes at Hospitals and Hospices. There is both an AIDS Orphanage (Cotlands)and a Hospice in neighbouring Somerset West.

Animal Welfare is an organisation that is deeply involved in the care and protection of animals and is constantly busy with volunteer programmes.